Where does transcription occur?

Where does transcription occur?

• A. In the cytoplasm
• B. In the mitochondria
• C. In the nucleus
• D. In the ribosome

Answer: (C)

Transcription is the process of making RNA from a DNA template. In eukaryotic cells, this happens in the nucleus because DNA is housed there and RNA polymerase enzymes, with the necessary transcription factors, operate inside the nucleus to synthesize the initial RNA transcript (which is then processed there). After processing, the RNA is exported to the cytoplasm for translation on ribosomes. The cytoplasm hosts the translation machinery, not transcription, and while mitochondria do contain their own DNA and can transcribe their genes, the primary, general location for transcription in most cells is the nucleus.

Transcription is the process of making RNA from a DNA template. In eukaryotic cells, this happens in the nucleus because DNA is housed there and RNA polymerase enzymes, with the necessary transcription factors, operate inside the nucleus to synthesize the initial RNA transcript (which is then processed there). After processing, the RNA is exported to the cytoplasm for translation on ribosomes. The cytoplasm hosts the translation machinery, not transcription, and while mitochondria do contain their own DNA and can transcribe their genes, the primary, general location for transcription in most cells is the nucleus.